Vehicle-wheel.



PATENTED MAR. 12, 1907.

1?; E. DAWSON. VEHICLE WHEEL.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 29. 1906.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

Iii! MmTE a: I laid!!! E! INVENTOH PETR 50A wso/v ATTORNEYS PATENTED MAR. 12, 1907.

P. E. DAWSON.

VEHICLE WHEEL.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 29, 1906.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

/Nl EN7'0/? PETER DA wsonr A TTORNEYS I PETER EI DAWSON, OF HANCOCK, MARYLAND.

VEHICLE-WHEEL.

' Specification of Letters Patent.

' Patented March 12, 1907.

Application filed ram 29, 1906. Serial No. 332,418.

1T0 all whom it may concern: Y

Be it known that 1, PETER E; Dawson, a

citizen of the United States, and a resident of Hancock, in the county of Washington and State of Maryland, have invented an Improvement in Automobile-Wheels, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is'the production of a wheel which shall be distinguished by great resiliency, strength, and durability of-its rim, portion, the same having a punctureless elastic tire and air inflation being dispensed with. To this end I have adopted the construction, arrangement, and combination of parts hereinafter described, and

illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in

which- Figure 1 is a section of a portion of a wheel constructed according to my invention. Fig. 2 is at cross-section on the line 2 20f Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a detail section illustrating the arrangement of antifrictidn-balls between overlapping rim portions. Fig.- 4 is -a section similar to Fig. 1, save that'certain springs are differently arranged. Fig. 5 is a cross-- section on the line 5 5 of Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is. a

sectional View showing a modification of a portion of the invention. I

Referring in the first instance to Figs. 1 2, ,3, A indicates the central portion of the complete Wheel, it being virtually a rigid inner wheel formed of a hub 1, spokes 2, a

wooden rim 3, and a metallic tire 4.

. Annular metal plates B (see Fig. 2) are applied to the sides of the wooden. rim 3 and secured thereto by transverse bolts 5. The inner edges of said plates abut against shoulders 6, formed on the sides of the wooden rim 3. C ;is a solid-rubber tire which is grooved interiorly, and thus made practically trough-shaped, and the same'is applied over the outer edges of the parallel metal plates B, and its tapered sides or flaps extend down on the said plates and are secured thereto by rivets or screws that pass through annular metal strips. 7. Within the annular s ace U provided between such rubber tire C an the metallic rim 4 of the inner wheel A, I arrange a series of curved, tapered, and overlapping spring-plates, whichv are pivoted at 8 on transverse bolts passing through the side lates B. The pivotal points, as shown in 2, are located about one-thirdof the distance from the metallic rim 4 of the inner plates D at. a point about one-third of the distance from the pivot 8 to the outer extremity of the. plate, and such bolt-passes through the rim 4 and wooden folly-3 of the inner wheel A, it being encircled exterior to the rim by a spiral spring 10 and by another spiral spring '11, arranged interiorly of the rim 4 and within a cavity formed in the felly 3. A nut and washer 12 are applied to the inner end of each bolt 9, and a cap 13 is applied over the same, said capbeing provided with flanges by which it is secured by screws to the felly 3."

The outer spring 10 is larger and stronger than the inner one, 11, and its function is to press the pivoted spring-plates D outwardv against the elastic rim C, and thus hold the same normally distended' The inner and weaker spring 11 resists the outwardteris'ion caused by the spring 10 to a certain degree, which may be increased at Will by adjustment of the nut 12. By the arrangement of the two springs in this manner and with the elastic tire 0 applied to the curved springplates I produce a highly-elastic wheel-rim, which is at the same time distinguished by great strength and durability andis especially ada ted to resist torsion or lateral 'will' still remain which may be serviceable for tern orary use.

It wil be seen that the elastic tireO may be readily detached should occasion require and thataccess may be had to the nuts 12 9 'by. removing the caps 13; also, that dust and moisture: are excluded from. the space in which the pivoted and curved: Dare arranged.

In-order to relieve friction between the s ring-plates D, balls 14 may be arranged as m Fig. 3, thesame be' locatedin a 55 wheel A to the inner side of thembber tire (l. i Longitudinal groove form'ed in t e underlying spring-plates )late D and the outer plate resting upon the alls, and thus held-just out of contact-with the inner plate.

In the modification shown in. Fig; 4 the bolts 9 pass through rim 3 of the inner wheeland extend beyond the sands far enough to receive spiral springs 11, elongated caps 13 being applie over the same, as shown. in other words, 'the' modification shown in Fi s. land 5 differs from the wheel shown in R in the location or arrangement of the inner sprin s.

In ig. 6- 1 illustrate a modification in the attachment of the elastic wheel-rim C" to the side plates B", the latter being provided at their outer edges with hooks I5, turned out.- wardly and inwardly, and the side edges of the tire C are correspondingly curved in ward, so as to engage said hooks, as shown.

It will be understood, therefore, that I propose to employ any suitable means of connection between the inner edges of the elastic rim C and the side plates attached to the fell of the inner wheel. I

he heads of the bolts 9 are made square or polygonaland fit in in the spring-plates so that the bolts are held from rotating when their nuts are being as described.

turned. The holes in the folly 3 and rim 4 to allow due space for the bolts to play-" when. the spring-plates D move inward or outward urider varying degrees of compression.

What I claim is 1. The improved wheel comprising an in: ner rigid wheel and an outer inclosingelastic rim consisting of a tirewhich is grooved interiorly, rigid metal plates secured to the sides of the fol y of the inner wheel and projecting outwardly therefrom, aseries of curved and overlapping plates pivotedto and between the side plates, and spring attachments connected with such curved plates and with the rim of the inner wheel, whereby the curved plates are pressed outward and serve to hold the elastic tire dulydistended, substantially wheel comprising an inner part having a concentric rim, an outer elastic part comprising a tire, a series of pivoted, curved, and overlappingplates pivotally connected with the rim of the inner wheel and bearing outward against the tire, and springs arranged between the pivoted plates and the rim of the inner wheel, for

2. The improved exertingpressure outward, substantially as described. I

w ,3. The improved wheel comprisinga rigid inner portion having a concentric rim, an"

elastic outer portion comprising a grooved or- V trough-shaped tire,

rim of the inner portion and to'the overlap ping edges of the elastic tire, curved springside plates secured to the and beyond the wooden plates and passing corresponding holes said rim, plates andthe rim of the inner wheel, and

and 'between such' side plates pivotedpto plates, springs app 'ed between the curved platesland the rim of the innerjportion, and

antifriction -jbea'rings -comprising balls arranged'in grooves between the overlapping plates, substantially as described.

4. In a wheel and annular. side plates of curved plates iv-' oted to and between such side-plates,- an e astic tire which. is'grooved interiorlfy and applied'over the overla ping" plates f. and exing a concentric rim,

. tended downward out .e side plates and'secured thereto, boltsattached'tosaid Curved through the rim of the inner portion, and s rings bolts exterior to sai rim, described.

5'. In awheel of the class indicate'dytlie combination, with the inner rigid wheel having a concentric/rim provided cesses and metal platessecured to the sides of said rim and projecting outwardly-there from, of curved lates which are pivotedto and between sai side plates, bolts attached to the said plates and passing through the rim of the innerwheel and two spiral springs applied to said bolts, one exterior to, and the other interior of, the inner wheel-rim, sub stantially as described I 6. In a wheel of the class indicated, the combination, with the rigid inner wheel, of annular plates secured to its concentric rim and extending outwardand parallehcurved plates pivoted to and between such side of the class indicated, thel combination, with a rigid inner portion .hav-

with radial re applied tosuch 1 substantially as ICO plates, bolts connected with the curvedplates and passing'through the rim of the,

inner wheel, springs-applied to such bolts, an elastic tire applied over the curvedplates and extending inward and detachably connected with the outer portions of the side plates, and

caps a plied over the-inner ends of the bolts,

for exc uding dust, substantially as described.

7,. An improved wheel comprising arigid inner portion having "a concentric rim, a series of curved plates pivotally connectedewlth bolts connected with the curved springs. applied to said-bolts exteriorly and l-nteriorly of the rim of the inner wheehsubstantially as described. l

8. In a wheel of the] class indicated, the

combination, withan inner rigid frame, series of 'curvedspruig-plates whichv are pivotally connected atone end with said frame and overlap each other as described, anda;

spring attachment. comprising bolts. and

springs coiinectedwiththe curved plates and t ofa 

